Obesity Levels Rise In Developing World, Report Says

Jan 06, 2014

News outlets examine the recently released Overseas Development Institute (ODI) report on rising obesity levels in the developing world. The report urges governments to take action.

BBC News: Obesity quadruples to nearly one billion in developing world
“The number of overweight and obese adults in the developing world has almost quadrupled to around one billion since 1980, says a report from a U.K. think tank. The Overseas Development Institute said one in three people worldwide was now overweight and urged governments to do more to influence diets…” (1/2).

The Guardian: Obesity soars to ‘alarming’ levels in developing countries
“The extent of the world’s obesity epidemic has been thrown into stark relief as a report from the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) puts the number of overweight and obese adults in developing countries at more than 900 million. … The report warns that governments are not doing enough to tackle the growing crisis, partly due to politicians’ reluctance to interfere at the dinner table, the powerful influence of farming and food lobbies and a large gap in public awareness of what constitutes a healthy diet…” (Tran, 1/2).

Xinhua: Overweight, obese population in developing world triples since 1980: report
“The overweight and obese adult population in developing nations has more than tripled since 1980, according to a report released Friday by the British Overseas Development Institute. … The figure has for the first time overtaken that in rich countries…” (Qui, 1/3).

NPR: Overweight People In Developing World Outnumber Those In Rich Countries
“…One-third of adults globally are now overweight compared with fewer than 23 percent in 1980, the report found. And the number of overweight and obese people in the developing world now far overshadows the number in rich countries…” (Beaubien, 1/3).